Secure desktop item receptacle

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacle according to the present invention is disclosed. The container is made of a hollow container, an attaching base coupled to a bottom surface of the hollow container for attaching the container to a desktop, and a four point star shaped opening through a top surface of the hollow container providing access to the inside volume of the hollow container. The attaching base includes a suction cup attachment device on a bottom surface of the attaching base, and a support pedestal coupled between the suction couple attachment device and the hollow container. The hollow container has a spherical shape, a tall goblet shape, and a tall octagon shape. The four point star opening has a cross shape, a narrow arm shape, and a diamond shape. The container may be made of is made of rubber, silicone, plastic, metal and glass.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/090,875, filed Nov. 5, 2020, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/965,771, titled “Secured StorageDevice,” and filed on Jan. 24, 2020. The entire applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture forproviding a secure desktop item receptacle.

BACKGROUND

Office workers and other individuals interact with and create materialwhich involves printed items that are consumed by others. Additionally,many hobby crafters often find themselves picking up small scraps ofsticky vinyl with a small hook similar to a dental pick. These printeditems are typically a mix of graphics and text and may also includeother physical objects. These small sticky pieces of waste vinyl areoften troublesome, as there is no quick convenient way to remove themfrom the end of the crafting hook. Typically, crafters will have toremove the sticky vinyl with their fingers, leaving waste vinyl all overthe crafting area, something that is rather bothersome to clean up.Sometime crafters will have a small trashcan on their desk, this isinconvenient because it take up a lot of valuable desk space, slidesaround, and is annoying to reach over and use.

While the workers are creating their documents, their desktops maybecome cluttered with items that are removed from the work in progressor excess material that may be added to the physical renderings of thesedocuments while the documents are being created. This clutter can get inthe way of a worker efficiently creating these documents, especiallywhen the documents are complex and require creativity to visualize theircreation.

The present invention attempts to address the existing limitations inproviding a secure desktop item receptacle according to the principlesand example embodiments disclosed herein. A receptacle that securelyattaches to a desktop that contains a usefully shaped opening mayprovide workers with a means to reduce desk/work area clutter andprovide the worker with a place to store the waste while the documentsare being created. This process is especially useful for graphic artistswho work with physical renditions of items requiring layers of texturedmaterial, rather than digital representations of these objects.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problemsare solved by providing an article of manufacture for a secure desktopitem receptacle.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the desktop storage containeris made of a hollow container, an attaching base coupled to a bottomsurface of the hollow container for attaching the container to adesktop, and a four point star shaped opening through a top surface ofthe hollow container providing access to the inside volume of the hollowcontainer.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the attaching base includesa suction cup attachment device on a bottom surface of the attachingbase, and a support pedestal coupled between the suction coupleattachment device and the hollow container.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the hollow containerhas a spherical shape, a tall goblet shape, and a tall octagon shape.

In another aspect of the present disclosure the four point star openinghas a cross shape, a narrow arm shape, and a diamond shape. Thecontainer may be made of is made of rubber, silicone, plastic, metal andglass.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention seeks to provide anergonomic solution to this problem by providing a simple hands freeeffective way to quickly remove sticky vinyl from the end of thecrafting hook, while securely storing it in a convenient location forlater disposal by the user. The invention will consist of a hallowedobject, which is connected to a suction cup which will stick to any flatsurface. The hallowed part of the object will have an opening at thetop. The top of the secured storage device will have an opening whichwill connect to at least one fold-able flap. A hook with a piece ofvinyl stuck to it can travel into the opening past the flaps into thebody cavity of the invention. The scrap of vinyl or other objects willbe caught and filtered off of a crafting hook by the flaps on theopening, while the hook passes through the slits between the flaps ofthe device. The vinyl or and other object will then be contained andstored in cavity of body of the device. The body of the secured storagedevice will be connected to a suction cup, which will suction the deviceto a table or desk, as to keep both hands free while in use, and toensure the secured containment device will remain stationary and uprightso all intended objects will remain inside the device. Preferably, theproduct will be a sphere with a cute diamond shaped opening at the top,which will allow for optimal product. The top body piece will beconnected to the suction cup which will secure the product to whicheversurface it is resting on.

The great utility of the invention is that the article of manufactureprovides a secure desktop item receptacle.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages will be better understood from thefollowing description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first potential embodiment of an article ofmanufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacle according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of directional views of an example embodimentof an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop itemreceptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a set of directional views of a second embodiment ofan article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a set of directional views of a third exampleembodiment of an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktopitem receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a set of directional view of a fourth exampleembodiment of an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktopitem receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a set of directional views of a fifth embodiment ofan article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged copy of the perspective view of FIG. 2

FIG. 8 is an enlarged copy of the top view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged copy of the perspective view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged copy of the top view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged copy of the top view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged copy of the top view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is and enlarged copy of the top view of FIG. 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture forproviding a secure desktop item receptacle according to the presentinvention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrepresent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of theinvention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attachedhereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification arenot intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the manypossible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the followingterminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a needle” includes reference to one ormore of such needles and “etching” includes one or more of such steps.As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based ontheir presentation in a common group without indications to thecontrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features,steps, or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, steps, or components. It also should be notedthat in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts notedmay occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twofigures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantiallyconcurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes,formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities andcharacteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximatedand/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversionfactors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factorsknown to those of skill. Further, unless otherwise stated, the term“about” shall expressly include “exactly.”

The term “user” and “worker” refers to an entity, e.g. a human, thatutilizes a device according to the present invention in order to bringabout a desired effect or outcome. In a particular case, the user is onewho places material into the receptacle. For such a user, the terms“user” and “worker” may be used herein interchangeably.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the inventionbeing applied for via the patent application with the title “Funky DeskBall.” Invention may be used interchangeably with ball receptacle.

In general, the present disclosure relates to an article of manufacturefor providing a secure desktop item receptacle according to the presentinvention. To better understand the present invention, FIG. 1illustrates a first potential embodiment of an article of manufacturefor providing a secure desktop item receptacle according to the presentinvention. A secure desktop item receptacle 100 is shown on a desktopwith a set of tools 102 a-d that are useful when a graphic artist workswith physical renditions of items that require layers of texturedmaterial rather working with digital representations of these objects.These tools 102 a-d permit the worker to add, cut, and remove layers oftextured material from the document or similar object being created.These tools 102 a-d may include various pick and cutting tools,including scissors 102 d for working with layers of textured material.

The secure desktop item receptacle 100 provides a storage location forthe textured items that are waste from the creation of the object.Additional details regarding the secure desktop item receptacle 100 aredescribed below in reference to FIGS. 2-6.

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of directional views of an example embodimentof an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop itemreceptacle according to the present invention. Top, front, side andperspective views of the first embodiment for the secure desktop itemreceptacle 100 are shown in FIG. 2. The secure desktop item receptacle100 includes a hollow container, and in this embodiment a hollowreceptacle sphere 150, on top of an attaching base 140 that is coupledto a suction cup attachment device 130. The hollow receptacle sphere 150defines the inside volume of the hollow container. The attaching base140 provides separation between the hollow receptacle sphere 150 and thedesktop. The suction cup attachment device 130 may be used to secure thedesktop item receptacle 100 to a user's desktop.

The secure desktop item receptacle 100 also includes an opening 110along its top surface of the hollow receptacle sphere 150 providingaccess to the inside volume of the hollow container. In the embodimentof FIG. 2, the opening is shaped like a four-pointed star. The opening110 covers a significant portion of the top surface of the hollowreceptacle sphere 150 that retains waste material from a user. Theopening 110 has a set of curved shaped edges that permits the user toinsert the waste material from the textured material being used in thecreation of objects. The user may pick up the waste material using oneof the tools 102 a-d (shown in FIG. 1) and place it into the securedesktop item receptacle 100 and use these edges to deposit the materialwithin the receptacle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a set of directional views of a second embodiment ofan article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacleaccording to the present invention. Top, front, side and perspectiveviews of the second embodiment for the secure desktop item receptacle200 are shown in FIG. 3. The secure desktop item receptacle 200 includesa hollow container, in this embodiment a hollow receptacle sphere 220,on top of an attaching base 240 that is coupled to a suction cupattachment device 230. The hollow receptacle sphere defines the insidevolume of the hollow container. The attaching base 240 providesseparation between the hollow receptacle sphere 220 and the desktop. Thesuction cup attachment device 230 may be used to secure the desktop itemreceptacle 200 to a user's desktop.

The secure desktop item receptacle 200 also includes an opening 250along its top surface that is shaped like a four-pointed star. Theopening 250 covers a significant portion of the top surface of thehollow receptacle sphere 220 creating a receptacle for retaining wastematerial from a user. The opening 250 has a set of curved shaped edgesthat permits the user to insert the waste material from the texturedmaterial being used in the creation of objects. The user may pick up thewaste material using one of the tools 102 a-d (shown in FIG. 1) andplace it into the secure desktop item receptacle 200 and use these edgesto deposit the material within the receptacle. The opening 210 issimilar to the opening 120 of FIG. 3 except that the opening 210provides a wider set of slit openings as the star reaches each of itspoints.

FIG. 4 illustrates a set of directional views of a third exampleembodiment of an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktopitem receptacle according to the present invention. Top, front, side andperspective views of the third embodiment for the secure desktop itemreceptacle 300 are shown in FIG. 4. The secure desktop item receptacle300 includes a hollow container, in this embodiment a hollowgoblet-shaped enclosure 320, on top of an attaching base 340 that iscoupled to a suction cup attachment device 330. The hollow goblet-shapedenclosure 320 defines the inside volume of the hollow container. Theattaching base 340 provides separation between the hollow octagon-shapedenclosure 320 and the desktop. The suction cup attachment device 330 maybe used to secure the desktop item receptacle 300 to a user's desktop.

The secure desktop item receptacle 300 also includes an opening 301along its flat top surface 302 that is shaped like a four-pointed star.The opening 301 covers a significant portion of the top surface of thehollow goblet-shaped enclosure 320 creating a receptacle for retainingwaste material from a user. The opening 301 has a set of curved shapededges that permits the user to insert the waste material from thetextured material being used in the creation of objects. The user maypick up the waste material using one of the tools 102 a-d (shown inFIG. 1) and place it into the secure desktop item receptacle 300 and usethese edges to deposit the material within the receptacle. The hollowgoblet-shaped enclosure has the flat top surface 302 and opening 401that is similar to the opening 110 within the hollow receptacle sphere150 in FIG. 2 except for the shape of the enclosure itself.

FIG. 5 illustrates a set of directional views of a fourth exampleembodiment of an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktopitem receptacle according to the present invention. Top, front, side andperspective views of the fourth embodiment for the secure desktop itemreceptacle 100 are shown in FIG. 5. The secure desktop item receptacle400 includes a hollow container, in this embodiment a hollowgoblet-shaped enclosure 420, on top of a support pedestal 440 that iscoupled to a suction cup attachment device 430. The support pedestal 440raises the hollow goblet-shaped enclosure up above the tabletop andprovides separation between the suction cup attachment device 430. Thehollow goblet-shaped enclosure 420 defines the inside volume of thehollow container. The suction cup attachment device 430 may be used tosecure the secure desktop item receptacle 400 to a user's desktop.

The secure desktop item receptacle 400 also includes an opening 401along its flat top surface 402 that is shaped like a four-pointed star.The opening 401 covers a significant portion of the top surface of thehollow goblet-shaped enclosure 420 creating a receptacle for retainingwaste material from a user. The opening 401 has a set of curved shapededges that permits the user to insert the waste material from thetextured material being used in the creation of objects. The user maypick up the waste material using one of the tools 102 a-d (shown inFIG. 1) and place it into the secure desktop item receptacle 400 and usethese edges to deposit the material within the receptacle. The hollowgoblet-shaped enclosure 420 has the flat top surface 402 and opening 401that is similar to the opening 110 within the hollow receptacle sphere150 in FIG. 2 except for the shape of the enclosure itself.

FIG. 6 illustrates a set of directional views of a fifth exampleembodiment of an article of manufacture for providing a secure desktopitem receptacle according to the present invention. Top, front, side andperspective views of the fifth embodiment for the secure desktop itemreceptacle 100 are shown in FIG. 6. The secure desktop item receptacle500 includes a hollow container, in this embodiment a hollowoctagon-shaped enclosure 520, on top of an attaching base 540 that iscoupled to a suction cup attachment device 530. The attaching base 540provides separation between the hollow octagon-shaped enclosure 530 andthe desktop. The hollow octagon-shaped enclosure 520 defines the insidevolume of the hollow container. The suction cup attachment device 530may be used to secure the desktop item receptacle 500 to a user'sdesktop.

The secure desktop item receptacle 500 also includes an opening 501along its flat top surface 502 that is shaped like a four-pointed star.The opening 501 covers a significant portion of the top surface of thehollow octagon-shaped enclosure 520 creating a receptacle for retainingwaste material from a user. The opening 501 has a set of curved shapededges that permits the user to insert the waste material from thetextured material being used in the creation of objects. The user maypick up the waste material using one of the tools 102 a-d (shown inFIG. 1) and place it into the secure desktop item receptacle 500 and usethese edges to deposit the material within the receptacle. The hollowoctagon-shaped enclosure 520 has the flat top surface 502 and opening501 that is similar to the opening 110 within the hollow receptaclesphere 150 in FIG. 2 except for the shape of the enclosure itself andthat the opening 501 provides a wider set of slit openings as the starreaches each of its points.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details,materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described andillustrated in order to explain embodiments of this invention may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from embodiments ofthe invention encompassed by the following claims.

In this specification, the term “each” may be used to refer to one ormore specified characteristics of a plurality of previously recitedelements or steps. When used with the open-ended term “comprising,” therecitation of the term “each” does not exclude additional, unrecitedelements or steps. Thus, it will be understood that an apparatus mayhave additional, unrecited elements and a method may have additional,unrecited steps, where the additional, unrecited elements or steps donot have the one or more specified characteristics.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the item receptacle 100, a body 2, a wall 4 and aninside volume 6. The opening 110 includes a central opening 8 and aplurality of slots 10 disposed about the central opening 8. The opening110 provides exclusive communication through the wall 4 to the insidevolume 6. The body 2 and suction cup defining a unitary structure. Thewall 4 disposed between the central opening 8 and the slots 10 defines aplurality of leaves 12. As shown by FIG. 8, the leaves 12 are disposedabout the central opening 8 and each of the leaves 12 is adjacent toanother leaf 12. In the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, each pair of adjacentleaves 12 defines an acute angle ‘a’ thereinbetween. Each acute angle‘a’ defines a vertex 30 and an acute angle inside 32. The acute angleinside 32 is oriented toward the central opening 8.

In the example of FIGS. 9 and 10, each slot 10 has a slot length 16 anda slot width 18. The slot length 16 may be greater than the slot width18 and the slot width 18 defines the distance between adjacent leaves12. From FIG. 10, the central opening 8 defines a center 24 that is alsothe center 24 of a mathematical central opening circle 22. The centralopening circle 26 is tangent to each of the leaves 12, which aredisposed about the central opening 8. The central opening circle has adiameter 26. As shown by FIGS. 10 and 12, the diameter 26 may be greaterthan the slot width 18.

I claim:
 1. A waste receptacle, the waste receptacle comprising: a) abody, the body defining a wall, the wall enclosing an inside volume, thewall defining a central opening communicating through the wall to theinside volume, the central opening providing exclusive communicationthrough the wall to the inside volume; b) a plurality of leaves definedby the wall in cooperation with the central opening, the leaves beingradially disposed about the central opening, each leaf being immediatelyadjacent to another leaf, each two immediately adjacent leaves definingan acute angle thereinbetween, each acute angle defining an inside ofthe acute angle, the inside of each acute angle being oriented towardthe central opening; c) the body defining a suction cup configured toselectably retain the body on a surface.
 2. The waste receptacle ofclaim 1, the receptacle further comprising: the wall defining aplurality of slots, each of the slots defining a slot length and a slotwidth, the slot length being greater than the slot width, each slotbeing disposed about the central opening and communicating through thewall to the inside volume, each of the slots intersecting the centralopening, the central opening combined with the plurality of slotsproviding exclusive communication through the wall to the inside volume.3. The waste receptacle of claim 2 wherein the central opening defines amathematical central opening circle, the central opening circle defininga diameter, the central opening circle being tangent to each of theplurality of leaves, the diameter of the central opening circle beinggreater than the slot width.
 4. The waste receptacle of claim 2 whereinthe slots are symmetrical.
 5. The waste receptacle of claim 2 whereinthe body is spherical, cup-shaped, or geometrically shaped.
 6. The wastereceptacle of claim 2 wherein each of the slots is curved.
 7. The wastereceptacle of claim 2 wherein the plurality of slots are radiallydisposed about the central opening.
 8. The waste receptacle of claim 2wherein each of the plurality of slots is of equal width along itslength.
 9. The waste receptacle of claim 1 wherein the suction cup andthe body define a unitary structure.
 10. A waste receptacle, the wastereceptacle comprising: a) a body, the body defining a wall, the wallenclosing an inside volume, the wall defining a central openingcommunicating through the wall to the inside volume, the wall defining aplurality of slots, each slot communicating through the wall to theinside volume, each of the slots intersecting the central opening, thecentral opening and the plurality of slots providing exclusivecommunication through the wall to the inside volume; b) a plurality ofleaves defined by the wall in cooperation with the central opening andthe plurality of slots, the leaves being disposed about the centralopening, each leaf being immediately adjacent to another leaf; c) asuction cup defined by the body, the suction cup being of unitarystructure with the body, the suction cup being configured to releasablyretain the body on a surface.
 11. The waste receptacle of claim 10wherein each of the slots defines a slot width and wherein the centralopening defines a mathematical central opening circle, the centralopening circle defining a diameter, the central opening circle beingtangent to each of the plurality of leaves, the diameter of the centralopening circle being greater than the slot width.
 12. The wastereceptacle of claim 11 wherein the slots are radially disposed about thecentral opening.
 13. The waste receptacle of claim 11 wherein each ofthe slots is curved.
 14. The waste receptacle of claim 10 wherein eachof the plurality of slots defines a slot width and a slot length, theslot length being greater than the slot width, the slot width beingconstant along the slot length.
 15. The waste receptacle of claim 10wherein the body is spherical, cup-shaped, or geometrically shaped. 16.The waste receptacle of claim 10 wherein the leaves are symmetrical. 17.The waste receptacle of claim 16 wherein one or more of the slots iscurved.
 18. A waste receptacle, the waste receptacle comprising: a) abody, the body defining a wall, the wall enclosing an inside volume, thewall defining a central opening communicating through the wall to theinside volume, the wall defining a plurality of slots, each slotcommunicating through the wall to the inside volume, each of the slotsintersecting the central opening; b) a plurality of leaves defined bythe wall in cooperation with the central opening and the plurality ofslots, the leaves being disposed about the central opening, each leafbeing immediately adjacent to another leaf; c) wherein the centralopening defines a mathematical central opening circle, the centralopening circle defining a diameter, the central opening circle beingtangent to each of the plurality of leaves, the diameter of the centralopening circle being greater than the slot width; d) a suction cupdefined by the body, the suction cup being configured to releasablysecure the body to a surface.
 19. The waste receptacle of claim 18wherein the central opening and the plurality of slots providingexclusive communication through the wall to the inside volume.
 20. Thewaste receptacle of claim 18 wherein the suction cup and the body definea unitary structure.
 21. The waste receptacle of claim 18 wherein thebody is spherical, cup-shaped, or geometrically shaped.